Redfin today is unveiling its “Sweet Digs” real estate blog in Washington, D.C., and Boston with nine freelance writers, adding to its real estate blogs in Seattle, San Francisco and southern California.

And speaking of online real estate, Roost is launching a new real estate search service today in 14 markets that works in conjunction with multiple listing services. (Seattle is not on the list of launch cities, though Portland and Boise are.) VentureBeat notes that Roost — which plans to make money by referring customers to agents’ Web sites — has a “clean design” but does not have the community features of Zillow or Trulia.

Signature Genomic Laboratories, a Spokane company that is developing a genetic testing system that analyzes differences in chromosome structure, has sold a stake in the five-year-old company to the Wellesley, Mass.-based private equity firm Ampersand Ventures. Terms were not disclosed. UPDATE: VentureWire reports that deal at more than $10 million, noting that the company has been profitable for more than four years.

GlobalScholar.com, the Bellevue online edcuation startup led by former drugstore.com chief executive Kal Raman, said it has signed a multi-year deal to provide technology to the South Carolina Department of Education. The online system will allow teachers and administrators to communicate with parents and students about homework assignments, student goals and other factors. It also streamlines the education administration process.

Inrix, the Kirkland provider of traffic information that scored $15 million in venture funding last fall, said it has expanded a partnership to prvide traffic and fuel pricing data to TomTom portable devices.

ReelTime Rentals said it has signed an agreement to receive feature films such as “Dr. Strangelove” and “Superbad” from Sony Pictures Television, a deal that ReelTime Chief Operating Officer Mark Cramer said is a “major milestone” for the Seattle online movie distributor.